but more the whole "crispness" and "focus" that is needed in a grading.

I understand what you're saying but, for what I want out of my tests, I'd disagree. Personally I want my tests to be an honest reflection of what my technique is at that point in time. I don't want it to reflect something that I've polished over the last few weeks. If my shomenuchi sankyo sucks, it should suck on the test. I tend to think of a test as me having the undivided attention of the most experienced people in our dojo. They are there to help correct my mistakes, they can't do that if I try to hide those mistakes.

Again, that's just me. Other's do it different and I'm ok with that

Bronson

"A pacifist is not really a pacifist if he is unable to make a choice between violence and non-violence. A true pacifist is able to kill or maim in the blink of an eye, but at the moment of impending destruction of the enemy he chooses non-violence."